This Little Chick

A multilingual chick! This resourceful tyke leaves the nest to explore the world. In order to have a more satisfying adventure, the little chick learns how to communicate with friends from other cultures. For instance, what does he do when he finds himself in the midst of three pigs and their mother? He grabs a tail, hangs on, and oinks! He tests the waters with his outlandish orange feet when he meets up with a family of ducks. They quack. He quacks. A quacking grand time is had by all. At the end of the day, our diminutive, yellow prodigy has learned five languages! (Pig, Duck, Cow, Frog, and Sheep.) Mother Hen is bemused and pleasantly surprised, but his siblings cover up their ears when a cacophony of barnyard sounds erupts from his tiny beak.

John Lawrence must have had a "whole lot of fun" writing and illustrating This Little Chick. His detailed woodcuts portray the surprise, joy, and exuberance of all the animals chick encounters throughout his busy day.

Take advantage of this story to encourage young children to engage wholeheartedly in the exploration of their communities (accompanied by appreciative adults, of course).

Mighty M

How Rocket Learned to Read

Rocket is a typical little dog…he loves to run around and chase and chew things, and hasn’t given a thought to reading until a little yellow bird arrives out of nowhere and pronounces herself his teacher.  Rocket will have none of it, and tries to ignore her until he overhears her reading a story about a dog named Buster who has forgotten where he buried his bone.  The bird has ignited Rocket's interest!  She cleverly saves the rest of the story for the next day, leaving Rocket wanting more.  Like reluctant readers everywhere, Rocket just needs the right story, and someone to read it to him, to spark his interest in reading.  If you like How Rocket Learned to Read, check out its sequel, Rocket Writes a Story, coming this July.  Both books are by Tad Hills.

Other wonderful stories about books and reading include Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner, Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein, Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson, The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore, and Wolf! By Becky Bloom.  And, if your child would like to read (or pretend to read) to a dog, check out our Read-to-a-Dog program at many library branches in Pima County.